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#1
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Diamond DA-40 headroom
I had a chance to fly a DA-40 Diamond Star quite a bit over the
holidays, to give some young eagles rides to kids in the family. After flying this plane, I'd have to say I much prefer it to either the 172 or Archer. The only downside I found was that the headroom in the front seats is just barely enough for me with a headset on. None of the seats have any adjustments, but I was wondering if any DA-40 owners have modified the seat cushions to get any additional height. If there is a way to do this, then the DA-40 may have potential as a more practical replacement to the warbird I'm flying now (when I have to give it up in a few years). Thanks, Eric Bartsch 1959 Pilatus P3-05 http://www.hometown.aol.com/bartscher/P3A848.html |
#3
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Diamond DA-40 headroom
I was seeing about 135kts at altitude while cruising. You may be
interested in the following website with a review of the DA40 by an owner (who now owns a Cirrus SR-20): http://philip.greenspun.com/flying/diamond-da40 Visibility is much better than in a 172, in addition to the higher cruise speed. I'm also quite interested in DA-40, and will proabably find a rental in the San Francisco bay area to try out next year. What is the "usual" cruise speed you can practically get in DA-40 ? I can only do ~110 kts in the 172 I train in, even though the POH lists 122kts cruise speed.- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text - |
#4
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Diamond DA-40 headroom
Was that 135IAS? last I flew a DA-40-180, we had 145KTAS at 10,500MSL
BT wrote in message ps.com... I was seeing about 135kts at altitude while cruising. You may be interested in the following website with a review of the DA40 by an owner (who now owns a Cirrus SR-20): http://philip.greenspun.com/flying/diamond-da40 Visibility is much better than in a 172, in addition to the higher cruise speed. I'm also quite interested in DA-40, and will proabably find a rental in the San Francisco bay area to try out next year. What is the "usual" cruise speed you can practically get in DA-40 ? I can only do ~110 kts in the 172 I train in, even though the POH lists 122kts cruise speed.- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text - |
#5
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Diamond DA-40 headroom
My recollection was that I saw cruise speeds in the mid to high 130s
but not as high as 140kts (If I average my upwind & downwind performance). I wasn't really pushing it though with a high speed cruise, since I wasn't going far. On a different topic, does anyone know what Diamond changed in the DA40XL to achieve the upgraded performance numbers? I believe they are claiming a cruise of 158kts on the XL. I'm assuming this required a 200hp engine, a different prop, or something significant. The basic plane is pretty clean aerodynamically so there doesn't seem to be significant potential in cleaning it up to get it to go faster. On Dec 31, 12:24 pm, "BT" wrote: Was that 135IAS? last I flew a DA-40-180, we had 145KTAS at 10,500MSL BT |
#6
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Diamond DA-40 headroom
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#7
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Diamond DA-40 headroom
Thanks, sounds like they pulled some impressive speed improvements out
of those modifications. Is Diamond planning on bringing the DA40tdi version to the US anytime soon? I know they had delays in the DA42 with the diesels, but those are flying in the US now and there are quite a few of the DA40tdi flying in Europe. I believe they were working on ensuring service centers were in place before selling too many diesels in the US, but those plans were started quite a while ago. Does anyone know if there is a timetable on the DA40tdi? On Dec 31, 8:13 pm, "Steve C" wrote: New wingtips (winglets), new 3-bladed scimitar prop, powerflow exhaust. Same engine. Steve |
#8
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Diamond DA-40 headroom
Steve C wrote:
wrote: ...On a different topic, does anyone know what Diamond changed in the DA40XL to achieve the upgraded performance numbers? I believe they are claiming a cruise of 158kts on the XL. I'm assuming this required a 200hp engine, a different prop, or something significant. The basic plane is pretty clean aerodynamically so there doesn't seem to be significant potential in cleaning it up to get it to go faster. New wingtips (winglets), new 3-bladed scimitar prop, powerflow exhaust. Same engine. Steve It will be nice if the powerflow exhaust can be available in existing DA models, as a factory installed option. I would like to avoid rerouting the pipes that my life will depend on in a 3rd party shop. |
#9
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Diamond DA-40 headroom
Eric,
I've got a DA40, with sheepskin seat covers, and I'm 6' 3" with a 34-35" inseam. Two things that make a differeence - taking out the seat covers buys an extra inch, and using a lightspeed headseat (which my partner flies with) gets you and inch on the top of the head. He's a former Airforce fighter pilot, and Airforce instructor who flew for Eastern, and he swears by the headset. I find that I hit my headset the frist five or ten minutes of a flight, then seem to "Settle in" to the seat after that. I love the plane - she's awesome to fly for a number of reasons: 1) Incredible view outside the plane 2) G1000 system is fantastic 3) Flying with a stick seems like you're flying a "real plane" 4) Safest safety record in it's class 5) Good speed / forgiveness trade-off. Patrick Sweeney DA-40 242F wrote: I had a chance to fly a DA-40 Diamond Star quite a bit over the holidays, to give some young eagles rides to kids in the family. After flying this plane, I'd have to say I much prefer it to either the 172 or Archer. The only downside I found was that the headroom in the front seats is just barely enough for me with a headset on. None of the seats have any adjustments, but I was wondering if any DA-40 owners have modified the seat cushions to get any additional height. If there is a way to do this, then the DA-40 may have potential as a more practical replacement to the warbird I'm flying now (when I have to give it up in a few years). Thanks, Eric Bartsch 1959 Pilatus P3-05 http://www.hometown.aol.com/bartscher/P3A848.html |
#10
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Diamond DA-40 headroom
Eric,
I've got a DA40, with sheepskin seat covers, and I'm 6' 3" with a 34-35" inseam. Two things that make a difference - taking out the seat covers buys an extra inch, and using a lightspeed headseat (which my partner flies with) gets you and inch on the top of the head. He's a former Airforce fighter pilot, and Airforce instructor who flew for Eastern, and he swears by the headset. I find that I hit my headset the frist five or ten minutes of a flight, then I seem to "Settle in" to the seat after that. I love the plane - she's awesome to fly for a number of reasons: 1) Incredible view outside the plane 2) G1000 system is fantastic 3) Flying with a stick seems like you're flying a "real plane" 4) Safest safety record in it's class 5) Good speed / forgiveness trade-off. Patrick Sweeney DA-40 242F wrote: I had a chance to fly a DA-40 Diamond Star quite a bit over the holidays, to give some young eagles rides to kids in the family. After flying this plane, I'd have to say I much prefer it to either the 172 or Archer. The only downside I found was that the headroom in the front seats is just barely enough for me with a headset on. None of the seats have any adjustments, but I was wondering if any DA-40 owners have modified the seat cushions to get any additional height. If there is a way to do this, then the DA-40 may have potential as a more practical replacement to the warbird I'm flying now (when I have to give it up in a few years). Thanks, Eric Bartsch 1959 Pilatus P3-05 http://www.hometown.aol.com/bartscher/P3A848.html |
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